Targeting PDGF-mediated recruitment of pericytes blocks vascular mimicry and tumor growth.

Aggressive tumor cells can adopt an endothelial cell-like phenotype and contribute to the formation of a tumor vasculature, independent of tumor angiogenesis. This adoptive mechanism is referred to as vascular mimicry and it is associated with poor survival in cancer patients. To what extent tumor cells capable of vascular mimicry phenocopy the angiogenic cascade is still poorly explored.

Promoter CpG island methylation in ion transport mechanisms and associated dietary intakes jointly influence the risk of clear-cell renal cell cancer.

Background: Sodium intake, but not potassium or fluid intake, has been associated with higher renal cell cancer (RCC) risk. However, risk factors may differ by molecular subtypes of the tumour. In renal physiology, electrolyte and water homeostasis is facilitated by ion transport mechanisms (ITM).

Effect of Itraconazole and Rifampin on the Pharmacokinetics of Olaparib in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors: Results of Two Phase I Open-label Studies.

Purpose: The metabolism of olaparib, a potent inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) with demonstrated efficacy in patients with BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer, is mediated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (predominantly CYP3A4/5). We assessed the potential of a CYP3A4 inhibitor (itraconazole) and inducer (rifampin) to alter the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of olaparib following single oral tablet doses.

Methods: Two Phase I, open-label, non-randomized trials were conducted in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Adherence to guideline recommendations for management of clinical T1 renal cancers in the Netherlands: a population-based study.

Purpose: For decades, small renal cancers are treated by radical nephrectomy (RN). Current guidelines recommend partial nephrectomy (PN) to preserve renal function and minimize cardiovascular comorbidity. As adherence to guidelines is largely unknown and international comparison to evaluate quality of health care is lacking, an pre-specified guideline evaluation of quality indicators concerning management of cT1 renal cancers was performed.

Olaparib tablet formulation: effect of food on the pharmacokinetics after oral dosing in patients with advanced solid tumours.

Background: The oral PARP inhibitor olaparib has shown efficacy in patients with BRCA-mutated cancer. This Phase I, open-label, three-part study (Parts A-C) in patients with advanced solid tumours evaluated the effect of food on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of olaparib when administered in tablet formulation.

Methods: PK data were obtained in Part A using a two-treatment period crossover design; single-dose olaparib 300 mg (two 150 mg tablets) was administered in two prandial states: fasted and fed.

CD44 enhances tumor aggressiveness by promoting tumor cell plasticity.

Aggressive tumor cells can obtain the ability to transdifferentiate into cells with endothelial features and thus form vasculogenic networks. This phenomenon, called vasculogenic mimicry (VM), is associated with increased tumor malignancy and poor clinical outcome. To identify novel key molecules implicated in the process of vasculogenic mimicry, microarray analysis was performed to compare gene expression profiles of aggressive (VM+) and non-aggressive (VM-) cells derived from Ewing sarcoma and breast carcinoma.

Effect of Food on the Pharmacokinetics of Olaparib after Oral Dosing of the Capsule Formulation in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors.

Background: The oral, potent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, olaparib, is well tolerated at doses of ≤400 mg twice daily (BID) (administered as capsules), and has shown efficacy in patients with advanced BRCA-mutated ovarian and breast cancer.

Methods: This Phase I, open-label, randomized trial investigates the effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of olaparib in patients with refractory/resistant advanced solid tumors. In Part A, a three-period crossover study, patients received a single oral dose of olaparib 400 mg (8 × 50 mg capsules) in three prandial states: fasted, a high-fat meal or a standard meal (with a 5-14 day washout).

Promoter Methylation of CDO1 Identifies Clear-Cell Renal Cell Cancer Patients with Poor Survival Outcome.

Purpose: In this era of molecular diagnostics, prediction of clear-cell renal cell cancer (ccRCC) survival requires optimization, as current prognostic markers fail to determine individual patient outcome. Epigenetic events are promising molecular markers. Promoter CpG island methylation of cysteine dioxygenase type 1 (CDO1), which was identified as prognostic marker for breast cancer, is studied as a potential marker for ccRCC survival.

Resistance to sunitinib in renal cell carcinoma: From molecular mechanisms to predictive markers and future perspectives.

The introduction of agents that inhibit tumor angiogenesis by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling has made a significant impact on the survival of patients with metastasized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Sunitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the VEGF receptor, has become the mainstay of treatment for these patients. Although treatment with sunitinib substantially improved patient outcome, the initial success is overshadowed by the occurrence of resistance.

[Sentinel lymph node procedure in melanoma patients: a staging procedure, not a therapy].

The definitive results of the MSLT-1 study in melanoma patients were published recently. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure shows no survival benefit compared with observation. The authors reported, however, that there was a survival benefit with "biopsy management" of patients.

An open-label study to investigate the cardiac safety profile of cabazitaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Purpose: This study assessed the cardiovascular safety of cabazitaxel, based on thorough evaluation of QT and non-QT variables, and the relationship between pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic electrocardiographic (ECG) profiles and the occurrence of Grade ≥3 cardiovascular adverse events.

Methods: Patients with advanced solid tumors were treated with cabazitaxel 25 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks. Digital ECG recordings were obtained during Cycle 1 over 24 h after dosing.

Lactate dehydrogenase as a selection criterion for ipilimumab treatment in metastatic melanoma.

Introduction: Ipilimumab, a cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 blocking antibody, has improved overall survival (OS) in metastatic melanoma in phase III trials. However, about 80 % of patients fail to respond, and no predictive markers for benefit from therapy have been identified. We analysed a 'real world' population of patients treated with ipilimumab to identify markers for treatment benefit.

Long-term dietary sodium, potassium and fluid intake; exploring potential novel risk factors for renal cell cancer in the Netherlands Cohort Study on diet and cancer.

Background: As sodium, potassium and fluid intake are related to hypertension, an established risk factor for renal cell cancer (RCC), they may be independent risk factors for RCC.

Methods: The Netherlands Cohort Study (NLCS) with case-cohort design included 120,852 participants aged 55-69 years. At baseline, diet and lifestyle were assessed with questionnaires.

Safety and efficacy of sequential chemotherapy with carboplatin plus gemcitabine followed by weekly paclitaxel in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Improving survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will require new strategies or new drugs. Sequential administration of conventional non-cross-resistant cytotoxic drugs offers an opportunity to increase drug diversity while maintaining dose intensity. This Phase II trial was designed to assess the efficacy and feasibility of such a regimen in advanced NSCLC.

[The Dutch guideline 'Renal cell carcinoma'].

The Dutch guideline 'Renal Cell Carcinoma' has been revised on the basis of new literature. With the assistance of the Netherlands Cancer Registry an assessment was made of the current care for patients with renal cell carcinoma. Renal cell carcinoma is a type of cancer for which knowledge of the genetic basis of the different histological subtypes has led to the development of new targeted therapies.

A phase I, open-label, randomized crossover study to assess the effect of dosing of the MEK 1/2 inhibitor Selumetinib (AZD6244; ARRY-142866) in the presence and absence of food in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Purpose: This Phase I study assessed whether food influences the rate and extent of selumetinib absorption in patients with advanced solid malignancies and determined the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of selumetinib and its active metabolite N-desmethyl-selumetinib in fed and fasted states.

Methods: A single dose of 75 mg selumetinib was to be taken with food on Day 1 followed by a single dose of 75 mg after fasting for at least 10 h on Day 8, or vice versa, followed by twice daily dosing of 75 mg selumetinib from Day 10. Plasma concentrations and PK parameters were determined on Days 1 and 8.

VHL and HIF signalling in renal cell carcinogenesis.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) plays an important role in renal tumourigenesis. In the majority of clear cell RCC (ccRCC), the most frequent and highly vascularized RCC subtype, HIF is constitutively activated by inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau gene. Of the HIF subunits, HIF-2alpha appears to be more oncogenic than HIF-1alpha, in that HIF-2alpha activates pro-tumourigenic target genes.

Signalling pathways in vasculogenic mimicry.

Solid tumour growth is dependent on the development of an adequate blood supply. For years, sprouting angiogenesis has been considered an exclusive mechanism of tumour vascularization. However, over the last years, several other mechanisms have been identified, including vessel-co-option, intussusception, recruitment of endothelial precursor cells (EPCs) and even mechanisms that do not involve endothelial cells, a process called vasculogenic mimicry (VM).

Genetics and epigenetics of renal cell cancer.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is not a single disease, but comprises a group of tumors of renal epithelial origin, each with a different histology, displaying a different clinical course and caused by different genetic alterations. Since cure rates are inversely associated with stage and response to the available treatment regimes is limited to a subgroup of patients, diagnostic methods facilitating early detection and new therapeutic modalities are necessary. Increased knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology of RCC has resulted in the identification of genetic alterations involved in renal cell cancer carcinogenesis.